Brandon Belt’s 23rd birthday is Wednesday. As a present, he might get a free flight to meet the Fresno Grizzlies in Tucson.

There’s no official news yet on a roster move to clear space for Cody Ross, but the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Belt finished tonight’s game at first base, struck out looking, and that probably will be his last at-bat as a Giant for a few weeks or months.

I’ve talked to a lot of scouts about Belt and they pretty much say the same thing: He needs more time in the minor leagues. Pitchers are disrupting his timing. He isn’t confident up there. He still has terrific plate discipline, but we all know rookies cannot always count on getting the borderline calls from umpires. Belt isn’t going up there like he’s hellbent on doing damage. He has just one extra-base hit since his homer April 1 off Chad Billingsley at Dodger Stadium.

None of this reflects on Belt’s overall talent or his projection as an everyday player in the big leagues. He’s been put in a tough situation, as the first baseman on the defending World Series champions while competing in just his second professional season. Those same scouts are confident that given time, and a boost of confidence, Belt will figure it out.

Advertisement

He only had 13 games of experience at Triple-A last season. At that level, you face plenty of pitchers who have big league service time. They know how to throw strikes, mix their pitches and outsmart hitters. Belt just hasn’t seen enough of those guys.

In theory, the Giants could delay sending Belt to Fresno. They could send out Darren Ford instead, and let Belt hang around for another week or so until Andres Torres comes off the DL later this month.

But that would mean moving Aubrey Huff to left field (not first base) and sitting Pat Burrell, who obviously is in Bruce Bochy’s good graces and only cemented his starting job with a three-run homer Monday night. (Burrell added a pair of singles tonight.)

There’s also the matter of depth in center field. The Giants need Ford more than ever, after Aaron Rowand left in the third inning tonight because his right arm, which was struck by an Ubaldo Jimenez pitch leading off the game, was stiffening up in the cold. Ross is the only other outfielder on the roster with significant time in center, and I don’t think the Giants want to push him in his first game back from the disabled list.

Belt knows the score. He sat glumly on the couch in the clubhouse today, looking like he was in the dentist’s office waiting for a root canal. But really, he has no reason to feel bad. The Giants rushed him. He wasn’t ready. He’s still way, way ahead of schedule.

Anyway, I’ll be sure to Tweet the roster move as soon as it happens tomorrow morning, even if it comes as a surprise to nobody at all.

—
Everyone assumed Rowand had been struck on his front-facing left arm. I thought he took it in the ribs. Turns out it struck his right arm – and it wasn’t the first time.

Two years ago, Rowand took a nasty welt on the right arm in Atlanta when Tommy Hanson hit him with a pitch. He tried to keep playing and made a throw to the plate from center field that only made it get stiffer and more swollen. He ended up missing three days and it affected him at the plate much longer than that.

He said today that he actually tore the muscle while making that throw. So when he felt his arm stiffening up again, he took himself out of the game.

“I’m avoiding what happened last time,” he said. “Especially with the cold weather, it started tightening up quicker.”

Rowand said he expected to be available Wednesday, but he’ll be reevaluated.

—
The Giants have outhomered the Rockies 5-0 in two games. They have hit 22 homers this season, second only to the Cincinnati Reds (with 24) in the National League.

Advertisement

Those are among some of the stats you’ll find in the game story. There’s an interesting factoid on Pablo Sandoval’s home run rate this year compared to 2010, too. The notebook leads with Cody Ross eager to return to the club.

All of these home runs portend good things, especially when you add the fireworks to a pitching staff that is dealing like it’s October all over again – at least for the top three starters.

It also provides many more moments for third base coach Tim Flannery to perfect his homer handshake.

The Flan Man pretty much touches and goes. No salutes. No one-leg-raised move like Mike Gallego.

“Just get out of the way,” said Flannery, showing off his quick-break movement. “Except for when Ken Caminiti hit a homer. Then we’d do the Tibetan monk greeting.”

Flannery stuck out his tongue. I always thought that was more of a Maori warrior greeting, but whatever. (Go All Blacks, by the way.)

Flannery said he had good reason for adopting a special home run salutation for Caminiti during his days with the San Diego Padres.

“He’d try to break your thumb, he’d hit you so hard as he went by,” Flannery said. “Nuh-uh. Ain’t happening.”

I’m not sure Pablo Sandoval will try to break any thumbs. But with all those chains around his neck, he might drop an “I pity the fool” on Flannery as he trots home.

—
Buster Posey is off to a good start. But it’s going to be hard to break the family record for RBIs in a game.

His younger sister, Sam, set that mark in a doubleheader for the Valdosta State softball team against Albany State. She hit four home runs, and amazingly, it was a cycle: A solo shot, two-run shot, three-run shot and a grand slam. She was 5 for 7 and ended up with 11 RBIs.

I remember talking to Demp Posey last year and he said to watch out for Sam. She’s the best athlete in the family.

“My dad said that?” Buster said. “Well, she probably is.”

Growing up with three brothers, I’m sure she learned to be competitive early in life. Here’s a great story about her, and the Posey family, from the Valdosta State student newspaper.

—
It’s gone viral, so you’ve probably seen it already. But here’s the music video with Cody Ross, Brian Wilson and little Keenan Cahill. Good for a smile, for sure.

—
Day game tomorrow. Sleep fast, as they say.

Andrew Baggarly

Andrew Baggarly has documented the most eventful era in San Francisco Giants baseball history, having covered the team since 2004 for th​ree major media outlets including the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune​. This is his 20th season as a baseball writer.
​Baggarly is the author of the bestselling book, A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants, and the newly published Giant Splash: Bondsian Blasts, World Series Parades and Other Thrilling Moments By the Bay. Baggarly’s other notable life accomplishments include running as the Bratwurst in the Milwaukee Sausage Race and becoming a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

As I sit in Portland reading this, I am wearing my All Blacks jersey. No lie! If you ever are in NZ, I highly recommend going to a match.

Great game by Sanchez tonight. Hopefully we can shut down the Rockies big guys for 1 more game.

uncle joe mccarthy

belt is sullen because bochy and sabean blew smoke up his butt

i was excited by his plate discipline….but i forgot one thing….mlb teams have the best advance scouts in the world…and when they find a hole…they tell everyone

belt did not fail…the mlb did its job…and the kid just doesnt have the experience yet to adjust

it was why after st, i thought he should go to fresno…to get at bats in a less pressure situation…and because bochy likes guys who can play in multiple positions…to get some work in the of

he will be fine….but its gonna be hard on the wife finding a new apt

one good thing…rents are a heck of a lot cheaper in fresno than in the bay

fabiani1233

Fontenot looked really good at shortstop tonight. I would like to see him play there some more to get a good idea of just how well he can play it. Tejada is old, and if anything, shouldn’t be playing as much as he has.

If Belt can’t emotionally handle the demotion, than it’s likely he was never mentally strong enough to begin with.

I don’t think that’s the case, but to people arguing to “quit playing with his head,” that’s my retort.

The Giants haven’t rushed, forced, pushed or toyed with Belt. When Ross got hurt, he was the best option to replace him on roster. He will be back.

Mavo

All this talk about how formidable the Rockies are! They had not played a .500 team … until they faced the World Champion Giants and they found out what the Braves, Phillies and Rangers found out last postseason … this is NOT the old Giants! And I’ll say it once again in case any of you missed the 1,000 times I’ve mentioned it on this blog:

Not enough said about J Sanchez. No matter what happens Wed, the Giants hVe said all they need to for now. Nice performance to keep the ball rolling. Giants trail by 2, and they’d lead by 2 if they played clean defense.

Noah

“belt is sullen because bochy and sabean blew smoke up his butt.”

Huh?

PNWGiantsfan

I agree with fab1233, Let Mikey play SS.. FOR A WHILE give him some AB’s. And also agree that “the bats can’t hit what the eyes can’t see”. Bring in Sherriff Cain tomorrow, & SWEEP!
GO GIANTS!

all im saying is be honest! quit playin games!!! Be serious!!! ford over belt? for real??????????????

BEAR

@ Vman do you actually read the blog entries?

“There’s also the matter of depth in center field. The Giants need Ford more than ever, after Aaron Rowand left in the third inning tonight because his right arm, which was struck by an Ubaldo Jimenez pitch leading off the game, was stiffening up in the cold. Ross is the only other outfielder on the roster with significant time in center, and I don’t think the Giants want to push him in his first game back from the disabled list.”

Steven

It’s a baseball move. They feel they need another OF, specifically a CF more than somebody at 1B. They did the same thing bringing him up after Spring Training, a baseball move. He was hot, and Huff had the ability to play in the Outfield so why not bring up the kid.

JeffB

Great point flightmaster…no one’s messing with his head. Belt got to experience the ring ceremony, flag raising etc…I’d call that a reward for a marvelous spring training.

As far as Belt vs Ford? You take what you NEED. Its a long season. Sometimes you send a pitcher down & call up a position player. Belt can’t play CF.

One other thing about Belt: This is a team looking to defend it’s WS championship, not just a team trying to put 9 guys on the field.

He’ll be back. If he can’t cut it, it’s on him.

Giants Fan in China

What a night for Bay Area sports. Sheessh.

Rich

Gotta feel for Ishikawa. He’s now backing up in Fresno.

totalfan62

Some would say no win in April can be classified as a “big win”, but I think last night’s game was exactly that. The Rockies 12-3 record coming into the series got a lot of national coverage, but our good pitching put a stop to that momentum. As Mavo (and others) always say “good pitching beats good hitting”.

It was especially rewarding to see Jonathan Sanchez pitch a strong game under these circumstances. He’s a very good pitcher with great “swing and miss” stuff, but inconsistency has been an issue. Not last night–bodes well for 2011 for sure.

Stay hot, Pablo Sandoval. Keep working, buddy. As Baggs and Uncle Joe mentioned, major league advance scouts pick up on everything, and pitchers will adjust to the “new Pablo”. That’s OK–it’s on Pablo to adjust to the adjustment and I believe he will.

I must comment on Belt. He will be a cornerstone for our franchise for quite some time, but he is clearly not yet ready to face major league pitching every day. He is also a quiet and confident young man who will not be damaged in any way by this experience. I predict he will follow a very similar path as Matt Williams in 1989 (kudos to PurplePear).

GO GIANTS!! Cain for the sweep!

totalfan62

@ Rich (appx #19):

Absolutely feeling it for Ishi. I believe he has earned a spot on some major league roster. Outstanding defense, good pinch-hitting, ability to play once every 10 days and make it count, all strong assets that should earn him a shot.

He needs to play OF somewhere so that he is not a one-position player. Ishi is a better talent and a better teammate than many other players in the majors today. Hope he gets his shot.

El Lobo

Plenty of coverage on Sanchez in the game story. Sanchez is now at a point where it’s expected that he go out and pitch a strong outing. Even without all of his pitches, it was great to see him attacking the zone and getting ahead in the count. With Bumgarner’s nice recovery on Sunday, the Giants 4 core starters have all had good outings this road trip. Of course it’s nice to be spotted a lead before you take the mound.

Hoping Rowand’s proactivity pays off and he doesn’t miss a start. He has been the most productive leadoff hitter this year.

mlb_shefan

I think Belt knew that this could come when Cody returned from the DL and he’s smart enough to know that going to Fresno isn’t the worst thing to happen (though right about now it’s probably stinging really badly). He goes, he gets some more time in, continues to grow as a player, and he’ll be back in the bigs soon enough. I wish him well and look forward to following his progress.

Can’t wait to see Cody back in action, and to watch the G’s use the Big Broom on the Rockies today.

Scout Finch

Said Totalfan62:

“Absolutely feeling it for Ishi. I believe he has earned a spot on some major league roster. Outstanding defense, good pinch-hitting, ability to play once every 10 days and make it count, all strong assets that should earn him a shot.”

He had his shot when he was waived and cleared all 29 other teams. Maybe it was just too early in the season and everybody else’s roster was crunched. Perhaps he could be part of a mid-season trade. But in reality the Giants are comfortable with the depth he provides at first and maybe we’ll see him again during the long haul season.

Re: Belt

There was no smoke. This is the big leagues. He got his taste. Next time he comes up, it won’t be his first time at the rodeo. Got to like his glove though. Now I’ll get to see him play at Fresno!

I like Travis Ishikawi. He is a real good guy, but…with that said, look at his career minor league stats folks. Ishikawi was only a career .260 hitter in the minors.

Richard

Not to be a jerk but you used the word “factiod” incorrectly.

The Wisdom Cow

There was some smoke, and fightmaster, your “If Belt can’t emotionally handle the demotion, than it’s likely he was never mentally strong enough to begin with,” implied what, exactly, with break down emotionally? Get disappointed? Fall on the floor in fetal position?

I am hoping he looked glum because he had to go through something unusual, be told your going down, IN TWO DAYS, so stick around and face the press for a day while Ross comes back smiling. Why? Because, and I hope this is the case, Bochy and Sabean would have been cruel to have waited to tell him on his birthday. No one likes a demotion, and now his wife has to go through the apartment search all over again.

Tear up AAA, Belt, and be back soon.

VmanGfan, hold off on the gloating until the series is over. BEtter yet, wait until the Giants are comfortably in front of Colorado in the standings. San Diego wiped their rears with us last year head to head.

FILTHpig

What a great series, reminds me of last season… but with more homers and a player we didn’t see at all last year (Pablo).

Dammit Belt, your 23, have one year of professional experience and you’re on the defending World Series champs roster… why aren’t you awesome yet?!?!

just kidding 😉

Go Giants!

Mike Souza

That video is about as funny as a heart attack to me. 2 of my favorite players are in that thing too, but that kid/midget is annoying as hell & I must admit so are the GIANTS players. To each their own I guess right? The GIANTS have won 2 out of 2 so far against the Rockies & that is what put’s a smile on my face. 😉 GO GIANTS!!!!

Mike Souza

To be clear I met they were annoying in the video only. I can just imagine some Captain Save A Bro bashing me if I didn’t clarify! HaHa.

prima facie

“Not to be a jerk but you used the word “factiod” incorrectly.”

Not to be a jerk, but it’s spelled “factoid.”

jstreet

I’m old, but I still remember Willie McCovey being sent down or was it up to Tacoma in those days. He turned out to be a pretty good first baseman and no slouch at the plate, either. For about 20 years.

As for Belt, maybe they will play him in the outfield down there; they already know he can handle big league 1B. That would increase his value to the Giants. That and more basehits.

totalfan62

@ Scout Finch, re Ishi:

Your second paragraph better conveys what I was trying to say. As rosters settle and teams determine what they need I think there will be another opportunity for Ishi. Could be with us, but we are so deep at 1B it seems unlikely.

Boom

Mavo,

Good hitting beats good pitching.

I am Reality

i hope this team really can hit because the 4th and 5th starter slots don’t inspire much confidence at this point and last year the 4 + 5 gave them a decent advantage over most other clubs…

nobody’s messing with Belt’s head either….either produce or get sent down, just like the rest of life…its not that complicated…

Bdub

#27…cruel? This is the big leagues. Players have been TRADED on their birthdays. And poor wifey got to look for an apt all over again? Sniff, sniff.

Belt’s daddy is a football coach, and I think his dad would be disappointed in his son if he can’t handle a demotion to AAA. I agree with Fightmaster’s comment (currently #7).

The problem with people worrying is the example of Matt Williams not being affected by ups and downs: prospects crashing have nothing to do with confidence for the most part, it has more to do with talent (and lack thereof for the Giants farm system). Belt is more like Matt Williams than he is like the other sad examples who couldn’t “handle” the demotions before.

I was thinking the same thing as Baggs when I saw a recent pix of Pablo, he was rocking the Mr. T look, and I wondered if he added back the weight he lost by putting those on! He should have been wearing them running up that hill in the Showtime show, that would have weighted him down more and help lose weight faster.

Speaking of which: thank you Andy for all the great stories you share with us here on your blog, I appreciate all of them!!!

I don’t know, but I would love it if Posey broke his family’s record for RBI in a game. :^)

Lastly, speaking about Keenan, I would note that while he is small, I think he’s 16, it is just that he has been battling (and losing to) a genetic disorder which will eventually result in an early death. That video with Wilson and Ross was bewildering at first, I was wondering if that was really Wilson or not, whether it was real, but once I saw Cody, I knew it was legit.

Hey, he lucked into something that he was able to capitalize on, good for him, wish him all the best and the best of health (though that appears to be all relative for him).

al oha

Buster has a brother, Jess, who is a H.S. Junior and plays Shortstop? Can Sabean sign him yet or does he have to wait until he graduates H.S.?

Happy Birthday Brandon. You’re coming along just fine, if everyone would look at your total game. OPB, baserunning, and DEFENSE should also figure in anyone’s assessment. You’ll be back soon enough and when you are, it will probably be for a long time.

That video is funny. Kudos to the Beard and the Boss for helping out.
Does that kid look like Matt Cain with Fearless Fly glasses on?

ClutchUp

Mike Souza-
Obsessive beat me to it, but Keenan has some rare disease that possibly makes him “look like” what you called him. Knowing your own problems – I doubt that you meant anything by it?

Belt: He does not make the Big roster out of spring training if Ross is not injured. Once Ross was injured Brandon forced the move by his STraining performance. Pitchers in STraining are NOT even using all their secondary pitches and like what was stated – the book on how to (now) pitch him travels fast and there is 24/7 video of all his at bats.

The Showtime gig in Bochy’s office concerning Belt’s tears happens all the time in professional ball, so much so that movies have included the moments where and when a player is called up or down. Even the movie Sugar referenced it.

Got to hand it to Efrain; He said in some respects Ford is a sideshow; A bit harsh but he was tired at the love “some-fans” have for Darren. I wrote before that +++speed is intoxicating to some/most of us. His OF defense is ++good, his arm is ok, he is dynamite on the bases, and he has yet to hit MLB or AAA pitching. He was below average at Richmond. Gary Brown is the CF of the future.

Ishi won’t be up unless it’s September; He should ask for his release ala Alex Smith and get a change of scenery.

Anytime a so-called back-up gets a start it weakens anyone’s bench because now the starter is in an unfamiliar role. They rest for Tejada was a good call and Fontenot provided some smiles on this Blog, but he still may be more valuable off the bench and as a LH pinch-hitter.

Andy, another great blog and a terrific background story — plus the link to the Dynamite video was priceless. Thanks!
Sweep the Rox!!!

CalBear

Belt will be just fine. I think his gloom face was from looking at a called strike he should have hit. His talent got him where he is, and knows how to listen to, and have confidence in, whatever Giants Coaches and Trainers tell him. He doesn’t forget it was a minor-league coach who corrected his swing. I can’t wait to read his Fresno stats, and see him as our new icon on fb, along with Stretch and J.T. My Kool-Aid stand will be back up on the corner.
All I can say about Panda, regardless of the bling, is, I told you so. He is not the same as ’09, he is better. His new shrunken strike zone will give pitchers fits, and, the weird talent he developed for hitting anything West of Oakland will only aid in his barrel meeting the ball within a smaller area.
Baggs…DeRosa at 1stB?? wtf? And, Wisdom C, I answered you late in yesterday’s blog. Thanks much for the welcome, btw.
Would someone please comment on the phantom 5th pitcher? Is it Voglesang? And, then what happens to Zito? Certainly not relief…..

The Wisdom Cow

I guess those comparing to Matt Williams forget that he also struggled mightily after he was sent down, with announcers and reporters pointing out that he did not take the demotion well. So again, what are you saying qualifies as “can’t handle” a demotion? You think they won’t be upset? You think the guy just thinks it wonderful that his wife, who had likely spent the past few weeks trying to fit in has to do it again? “sniff, sniff.” Do you think swinging at a baseball is all he does?

Belt cried tears of joy when he was told he’d be on the roster. He’s a guy who scouts had given up on while in college but for a Giant scout who thought an adjustment would improve his hitting. He’s faced adversity and overcome it before and he will likely do so again and be back in a Giant uniform, but what in the world macho crap are you gagging on to think the demotion won’t upset him? his wife? I guess you were doing cartwheels and hand stands the last time you were demoted, fired, or hit a speed bump trying to accomplish a dream.

Yeah, if he suffers a psychotic break from reality, I’ll agree he doesn’t belong in the bigs, but getting upset for a while, perhaps even a week or two while dealing with life outside of the job move, that’s called human.

ClutchUp

WisdomCow has it spot on. Remember Matt Williams also use to look down at BOBBY Bonds coaching at first/hitting coach who would remind Matt to touch his mouth to his front shoulder.

Williams is a favorite among us fans but he preceded Pedro Feliz as one of the first of many that could not lay off the slider in the dirt away. Feliz, with a different approach left SF and won a WS the next year in Philly. Probably now out of baseball as he wasn’t near the ball player Matt was. Matt had his OWN off the field marital problems and it is good to see him in the dugout with Kirk Gibson.

Belt will survive, as others have mentioned his dad is a FB coach. FB coaches yell at everyone 24/7. Belt was a LHP at Texas as well as an OFielder.

Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.